Weekend Rap

Executives and media talent from around the college football world began gathering in Miami over the weekend ahead of Monday night’s CFP National Championship.

Those who spoke with SBJ had their eyes on a number of issues, ranging from the audience number that Miami-Indiana will be able to pull in the title game to what CFP expansion could look like -- if it happens at all -- to how the White House and Congress can be utilized to address myriad issues facing the space (and that was before President Trump took to social media with his attempt at keeping Army-Navy in the slot that it currently exists).

Many key execs were at the Loews Miami Beach hotel, which is serving as CFP HQ this week. Those spotted on Saturday included a slew of FBS commissioners, including the Big Ten’s Tony Pettiti, Big 12’s Brett Yormark, the American’s Tim Pernetti, C-USA’s Judy MacLeod and the MAC’s Jon Steinbrecher.

Also seen were Fox Sports exec Jordan Bazant, FishBait Marketing’s Rob Temple, Bowl Season Executive Director Nick Carparelli, Big Ten Deputy Commissioner Kerry Kenny, Octagon media rights advisor William Mao and ACC Network chief Jeramy Michiaels.

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The Mendoza Burrito — a concoction of rice, black beans, carne asada, chimichurri and quince sauce — was created as part of an NIL deal between Fernando Mendoza, a little-known quarterback locked in a battle for Cal’s starting job, and La Burrita, a local joint just a stone’s throw from the Berkeley campus.

“We went up to the La Burrita Store, cold pitched them,” Indiana’s Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback said Saturday during College Football Playoff media day, grinning. “It was like, ‘Hey, this is why you need it. It’s going to go to charity. It’s going to be great for yourself. It’s going to be great for the community and great for the store.’”

In the two years since, Mendoza has endeared himself well beyond Berkeley establishments. After transferring from Cal to Indiana in December, he has the Hoosiers on the verge of one of college football’s grandest stories. Brands have noticed, too, with Learfield EVP NIL Growth & Development Solly Fulp saying that Mendoza represents “all the transformational opportunities that NIL brings.”

Read the full story here.

Tickets for Monday’s CFP National Championship between Indiana and Miami saw some fluctuations in price over the weekend on SeatGeek, StubHub, Ticketmaster and Vivid Seats. The lowest price as of Sunday morning was for $2,552 on StubHub, showing a drop down below $3,000 after Friday saw prices hit highs on all the resale sites. StubHub also feature the most expensive ticket at $1,032,608.

Here is a snapshot of the prices as of Sunday morning:

• SeatGeek: $3,625-$157,100
• StubHub: $2,552-$1,032,608
• Ticketmaster: $3,708-$23,400
• Vivid Seats: $3,538-$143,817 (SBJ).

Meanwhile, President Trump is expected to attend the National Championship Game. Officials said fans should expect “enhanced security measures and additional restrictions” (X, 1/17).

North Carolina football coach Bill Belichick will be a part of ACC Network’s coverage of the title game, contributing to the channel’s “ACC Huddle” studio show and “Field Pass with ACC Huddle” from the sideline (YAHOO SPORTS, 1/16).

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The N.Y. Giants and John Harbaugh “finalized a five-year deal” to make him their next coach. Harbaugh said that the Giants’ “place in the NFL added to the allure of becoming the franchise’s head coach.” Harbaugh: “The history of the league means something to us … Why? Because it’s the New York Football Giants. And I’m their head coach. What a day.” Harbaugh said that he will report directly to Giants co-owner John Mara. That makes Harbaugh the “first Giants head coach to operate under such a structure.” Harbaugh added that he “looks forward to building a strong partnership with Giants GM Joe Schoen.” Harbaugh said that “final negotiations with the Giants involved ‘building the football operations structure.’” Harbaugh: “The conversations with John and Chris Mara and Joe about that were great. … We’re not going to be much bigger operationally, but it takes time to put that together in negotiations" (THE ATHLETIC, 1/17). On Long Island, Tom Rock wrote the Giants are “not hiring a new head coach,” but are instead “hiring a new system, a new dynamic for the entire organization” (NEWSDAY, 1/17).

More headlines on Harbaugh to the Giants:

• Hiring title-winning coaches like John Harbaugh hasn’t been a boon for New York sports teams.
• John Harbaugh and Jaxson Dart each landed the best partner possible.
• The Blueprint is right there for John Harbaugh and the Giants.
• While pondering future, John Harbaugh ‘really leaned’ on Chiefs coach Andy Reid.

The Falcons hired former Browns coach Kevin Stefanski as the franchise’s 20th head coach following their 8-9 season that saw them miss the playoffs for the eighth consecutive year. The Falcons worked through nine candidates, meeting with Stefanski on Saturday as the first candidate to have a second interview. Falcons President of Football Matt Ryan in a statement said Stefanski is a “team-first leader who puts a premium on accountability for everyone and a player-driven culture.” The Browns were 8-26 over the past two seasons under Stefanski, and he finished with a 45-56 record. Falcons owner Arthur Blank hired Ryan into his role, and along with Stefanski’s addition, they will move to find a GM (Atlanta JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 1/17).

In Atlanta, Ken Sugiura noted Blank’s preference for first-time coaches under the header, “In first act, Matt Ryan hires a coach Arthur Blank probably wouldn’t have.” Should this “marriage prove fruitful, the story of Stefanski’s success may start with how Ryan identified him as the right coach and then convinced him that the Falcons were the right team for him” (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 1/17). Also in Atlanta, Michael Cunningham writes under the header, “Hiring losing coach is confident move by new Falcons president Matt Ryan.” Cunningham: “Better to make an unpopular call you think is right than shy away from it because it won’t be well received. That doesn’t mean Ryan’s first big decision as an executive is the right one. It does mean it’s a confident decision” (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 1/18).

In Cleveland, Mary Kay Cabot writes, “It didn’t take long for two-time NFL Coach of the Year Kevin Stefanski to find a new head coach gig.” The Falcons’ hiring of Stefanski “proves that one owner’s castoff is another’s treasure” (Cleveland PLAIN-DEALER, 1/17).

With the Giants and Falcons off the board, seven teams are searching for coaches: Browns, Raiders, Titans, Steelers, Ravens, Dolphins and Cardinals.

The Packers after “nearly a week of negotiations” signed coach Matt LaFleur to a “multi-year contract extension that will guarantee he won’t go into 2026 with just one year left on his deal.” The Packers also were “close to completing a contract extension” for GM Brian Gutekunst. Packers EVP & Dir of Football Operations Russ Ball also is expected to “receive a contract extension.” Terms of the deals were not available, and it is “unclear whether LaFleur and Gutekunst will have matching years on their contracts.” A source said the Packers’ front office structure is “staying the same.” All three “will report to President and CEO Ed Policy, who made the decision to extend each of the three men’s contracts.” A source said that there was “no hesitation about bringing LaFleur back.” Though terms of the deal aren’t available, it is “likely LaFleur will earn in the” $15M per year range. It is “unclear whether Policy and Gutekunst demanded that LaFleur make changes on his staff.” The Packers have missed the playoffs only once under LaFleur, who has a regular-season record of 76-40-1 (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL-SENTINEL, 1/17).

President Trump in a Saturday night post on Truth Social said he plans to sign an executive order “preventing any football games from going head-to-head with the annual meeting between Army and Navy.” The Army-Navy Game is played a week after conference championship games and no other games being played in that time slot. Trump wrote, “The Army-Navy Game is one of our Greatest American Traditions -- Unmatched Patriotism, Courage, and Honor! This incredible Tradition is now at risk of being pushed aside by more College Playoff Games, and Big TV Money. NOT ANYMORE! Under my Administration, the second Saturday in December belongs to Army-Navy, and ONLY Army-Navy! I will soon sign a Historic Executive Order securing an EXCLUSIVE 4 hour Broadcast window, so this National Event stands above Commercial Postseason Games. No other Game or Team can violate this Time Slot!!!” His “reference to postseason football could imply more than bowl games.” Some proposals to expand the College Football Playoff to 24 teams include moving Army-Navy “up a week to the first Saturday in December” (CBSSPORTS.com, 1/17).

Several experts told The Washington Post that Trump’s planned order was “probably illegal, citing the First Amendment and other regulations.” Jeffrey Cole, the director of the USC Annenberg School for Communication’s Center for the Digital Future, wrote in an email: “While the goal may be commendable (at least for Army-Navy) and the President has as much right to persuade or coerce as any fan, he has no legal power of enforcement” (WASHINGTON POST, 1/18).

In a statement Sunday, American Commissioner Tim Pernetti, whose conference includes both Army and Navy, thanked the president and legislators who want to protect the game, which he called a “national treasure.” He said there were “opportunities for change” that provide “creative, sustainable, economic solutions without compromising tradition” (X, 1/18).

The NBA Global Games “return to England for the first time in seven years” for today’s game between the Magic and Grizzlies at O2 Arena. This is the final international date of the 2025-26 season after preseason exhibitions in Abu Dhabi, Melbourne, Vancouver and Macao and regular season games in Mexico City on Nov. 1 and Berlin on Thursday. Prime Video will air the game. The halftime performance is by FLO, a London-based R&B trio. While in England, Magic players “tried local delicacies, like jelly babies, Turkish delight and ‘Dairy Milk Fingers.’” Both teams separately “took a team photo on the steps of St. Paul’s Cathedral.” On Saturday, Grizzlies players “visited Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and watched the English Premier League match between Spurs and West Ham United” (THE ATHLETIC, 1/18).

Details of Tennis Australia’s settlement with the Professional Tennis Players’ Association “published for the first time,” with Tennis Australia agreeing to “co-operate with the PTPA against the other slams.” That includes “providing confidential financial information, in return for being removed from the claim and avoiding liability for potential damages that could reach tens of millions of pounds.” The PTPA launched an antitrust lawsuit against the four grand slams, the ATP Tour, WTA Tour and the International Tennis Federation last year, “accusing them of collaborating to reduce prize money, impose a restrictive ranking system and repress player promotional opportunities.” The PTPA’s lawyers in a court filing wrote, “In exchange for a release of liability for monetary damages, Tennis Australia agrees to provide damages class plaintiffs with materials, facts, and other information known to Tennis Australia relevant to plaintiffs’ claims against the Tour defendants and Grand Slam defendants.” They claim the deal with Tennis Australia has been “designed to put pressure on the other Slams to settle.” The ATP and WTA have previously said the suit is “baseless and misguided” and they are expected to continue their defense with the other slams. (THE GUARDIAN, 1/18).

The extension of the Australian Open into a three-week event will raise an extra US$13.38M in tickets, concessions, merchandise and television rights, according to the London Times. More than 200,000 people over six days attended what organizers billed as “Opening Week, to watch qualifying matches, practice sessions, novelty exhibitions, musical acts and children’s performers.” Stars such as Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka “contest ticketed practice matches at the Rod Laver Arena, while novelty exhibitions such as the One Point Slam -- in which professionals played amateurs -- and the opening ceremony -- a doubles match involving Roger Federer, Andre Agassi, Lleyton Hewitt and Pat Rafter -- have been hit attractions.” Last week featured on-site performances from bands and DJs, including the English group Hot Chip. Admission to the grounds costs $13 for adults and is free for children, who also get complimentary rackets. The attendance figures Monday “were particularly outstanding.” The total of 29,261 spectators was an increase from 7,543 on the same day last year″ (London TIMES, 1/17).

Univ. of Miami AD Dan Radakovich is the latest AD to “publicly encourage an uncapped market of athlete compensation.” Radakovich said the “model we have right now is really difficult to enforce,” and “people who feel like they want to invest should have the ability to invest.” As schools “strategize to exceed” the $20.5M revenue-sharing cap in a variety of ways, Radakovich said the “act of restricting earnings -- even within the House settlement’s injunction -- is not a way forward.” Ohio State AD Ross Bjork last week said that “college sports ‘cannot govern the money any longer’ and should consider an unlimited spend.” Bjork said, “We have a soft cap. ... The House case settlement did not keep up with the market. In some ways, we need to overcorrect the House settlement in terms of the money piece.” He added, “When you restrict the money, you cause people to do things against the rules, go underground or wire things. We’re hearing all kinds of stories.” Notre Dame AD Pete Bevacqua last month said, “I think the cap is too low.” Some “believe enforcement from the College Sports Commission” is “around the corner” (YAHOO SPORTS, 1/17).

In D.C., Barry Svrluga writes on the situation in college football under the header, “Who’s in charge of college football? Nobody. That’s a problem.” Svrluga: “The sport is broken because there is no single person or entity that wakes up every day and thinks: ‘What’s in the best interest of college football right now? And how does that change next week or next year?’” The sport is “devoid of central leadership -- almost by design” (WASHINGTON POST, 1/17).

With the Patriots notching a 14-3 record in the regular season and facing the Texans in the Divisional Round today, Foxboro-area businesses are “reaping in the team’s success.” Through the first half of January at Patriot Place, traffic has “already spiked 20%.” Patriot Place VP & GM Brian Earley said the increase “will continue to get better, ‘God willing.’” He said the Renaissance and Hilton Garden Inn, Patriot Place’s two hotels, are “sold out this weekend” for the game against the Texans. He added that as soon as the Patriots “started to look strong” earlier in the season, “all 600 rooms at each home game became completely booked.” Patriot Place has “gained 21 new businesses since the Patriots last had a sustainable playoff run seven years ago.” Earley: “We have ‘Christmas in January’ because of these extra games. It can’t be more fun, and we kind of have forgotten how fun it was seven years ago, but it really is great” (BOSTON HERALD, 1/17).

The Sky hosted a luncheon to celebrate the All-Star Game coming to Chicago. The WNBA in October named Chicago the host for the 2026 All-Star Game on July 25 at the United Center -- “if the season proceeds without interruption.” Sky leadership at Friday’s event “called on the dozens of business leaders, sports team owners and politicians in the room to consider sponsoring the team.” They handed out a paper outlining “sponsorship opportunities ranging from” $50,000 to $1M. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said, “We can inspire the next generation of athletes, especially our young women, to reach new heights. Let’s not understate the significance that this holds for women’s sports. I think we can all agree it’s about damn time.” All-Star Weekend will include a “fan festival, an innovation summit highlighting the Sky’s business initiatives and community partnerships, and other activities.” The WNBA has “partnered with the Chicago Park District to paint the WNBA three-point line on all the city’s basketball courts” (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 1/16).

A report published by the World Economic Forum showed that “climate change and individuals’ physical inactivity could reduce the size of the global sports industry” by $1.6T by 2050. The WEF’s “Sports for People and Planet” report is billed as the “first attempt to properly estimate the size of the sector and predict its growth.” The study “paints a generally optimistic picture,” with worldwide revenues from “sports-related businesses” estimated to rise from $2.3T last year to $3.7T in 2030, and then increase to $8.8T by 2050. The report said, “Analysis of 2030 revenue projections indicates that the greatest exposure to physical inactivity and environmental risks lies in sports tourism, sporting goods and participatory sports -- sectors that rely most heavily on active populations and stable environmental conditions.” The report is “concerned about climate change,” as it points out that “sport is not only highly vulnerable to risks linked to ‘accelerating environmental degradation’ but is also a ‘significant contributor to these pressures.’” (THE ATHLETIC, 1/15).

The AHL Colorado Eagles promoted Kim Weiss to assistant coach Friday. She joins Kraken assistant Jessica Campbell as the “only women in the NHL or AHL to be a full-time assistant coach.” Weiss was hired by the Avalanche affiliate as video coach Aug. 7, 2024. She served as a guest coach for the Avalanche in 2023-24 and “has worked in various capacities at Avalanche development camp for four straight seasons” (NHL.com, 1/16).

Flyers mascot Gritty “makes about $250,000 a year, nearly as much as” Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, the nation’s highest-paid governor. A new analysis of the highest-paid mascots in 2025 showed Gritty’s “handsome package still lags behind mascots” like the Nuggets’ Rocky the Mountain Lion ($625K), Hawks’ Harry the Hawk ($600K) and Bulls’ Benny the Bull ($400K). Online gambling reviewer GamblingSites “collected mascot salary information from sports job boards and media outlets, including Sports Illustrated” (AXIOS PHILADELPHIA, 1/14).